Chapter 80: chapter 80

The dim glow of the palace torches cast flickering shadows on the ornate walls as Sanmayi moved through the corridors with deliberate haste. The quiet of the night belied the storm raging within her mind. Her discovery earlier that day had left her shaken—a covert network of spies and informants, operating within the palace, feeding information directly to Nandini.The betrayal cut deeper than any blade. These walls, which she had come to see as a haven, now felt like a cage riddled with invisible threats. And the faces she passed each day—servants, guards, even courtiers—were now tinged with suspicion.“Sanmayi.”Ranajay’s voice brought her back to the moment. He fell into step beside her, his expression a mixture of concern and determination.“Have you decided how we’ll act?” he asked, his tone low to avoid being overheard.Sanmayi nodded, her jaw tight. “Yes. We’ll root them out, one by one. But we have to be careful. If we act too quickly, we risk missing the bigger players. This is more than a few disloyal servants, Ranajay. It’s a web.”Ranajay placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re right. But you don’t have to bear this alone. We’ll face it together.”Her heart softened at his words, but the weight of the situation remained heavy. “We’ll start with the informant in the west wing,” she said. “If the reports are accurate, they’ve been passing messages directly to Nandini’s faction.”Ranajay nodded, his eyes steeling with resolve. “Lead the way.”---The small room they entered moments later was unassuming, tucked away in a less-frequented corner of the palace. A single lamp burned on the desk, illuminating stacks of papers and a wax seal bearing Nandini’s crest.Sanmayi picked up one of the documents, her breath catching as she read its contents. It was a detailed account of her meetings with key advisors, including notes on her recent travels to the villages. The level of detail was chilling.“They’ve been watching everything,” she murmured, handing the paper to Ranajay. “Even our most private discussions.”He scanned the document, his jaw clenching. “This confirms it. We can’t let this go unchecked.”Suddenly, a faint scuffle sounded outside the door. Sanmayi exchanged a glance with Ranajay, her hand instinctively moving to the dagger hidden beneath her sari.“Stay behind me,” Ranajay whispered, but she stepped forward instead, her determination overriding her caution.“Who’s there?” she called, her voice firm.The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.“Your Majesty,” the man said, bowing deeply.Sanmayi’s heart plummeted. “Madhavan?” she whispered, struggling to reconcile the face before her with the treachery she had uncovered. Madhavan was one of her most trusted advisors, a man who had served the throne for decades and had been instrumental in helping her navigate court politics.“Your Majesty,” Madhavan said again, his tone steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of unease.Ranajay stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “You’ve been working against us, haven’t you?”Madhavan straightened, his gaze shifting between the two of them. “I serve the crown, my lord. Always.”“Then explain this,” Sanmayi said, holding up the incriminating document. “How did Nandini’s crest come to be on correspondence that outlines every move we’ve made in the past month? And how do these notes reflect meetings you were present for?”For a moment, Madhavan remained silent, his expression unreadable. Then, he sighed heavily.“I was coerced,” he admitted. “Nandini’s men threatened my family. I had no choice but to provide her with information.”Sanmayi’s anger flared. “You had no choice but to betray us? To jeopardize the kingdom for your own safety?”Ranajay’s voice was like ice. “You could have come to us, Madhavan. We would have protected your family.”Madhavan shook his head. “You don’t understand. Her reach is greater than you know. She has spies everywhere, and her methods...they’re ruthless. If I had refused her demands, my family would be dead by now.”Sanmayi stared at him, her emotions warring within her. She wanted to believe him, to think that fear had driven his actions rather than greed or malice. But the consequences of his betrayal were undeniable.“Your silence has cost lives,” she said, her voice trembling with restrained fury. “And it could cost more if this network isn’t dismantled. Tell us everything you know.”Madhavan hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll tell you. But you must promise to protect my family. They’re innocent in all of this.”Ranajay glanced at Sanmayi, his expression softening. “We’ll protect them,” he said. “But only if you’re truthful.”Madhavan began to speak, revealing names, locations, and methods of communication used by Nandini’s spies. With each revelation, Sanmayi’s resolve deepened.---Hours later, as the first light of dawn crept through the palace windows, Sanmayi and Ranajay sat in their private chambers, poring over the information Madhavan had provided.“This changes everything,” Ranajay said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “We can use this to dismantle Nandini’s network.”Sanmayi nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. The betrayal still lingered, a sharp ache in her chest. She had trusted Madhavan, relied on him, and his actions had nearly cost them everything.“Are you all right?” Ranajay asked, his hand covering hers.She looked up at him, her eyes weary but determined. “I’ll be all right once this is over. Once we’ve stopped her.”He squeezed her hand gently. “We will. Together.”Sanmayi managed a small smile, drawing strength from his unwavering support. But as she gazed out the window at the waking kingdom, she knew that the road ahead would be treacherous.For now, the shadows within the palace had been exposed. But she also knew that in the battle for Amaravati, darkness had a way of creeping back in. And she would have to remain vigilant if she was to protect her people—and her crown—from the forces that sought to destroy them.