Chapter 98: chapter 98

S A N M A Y I The day began like any other, but beneath the calm exterior, the air was thick with the tension of something soon to unfold. Nandini, desperate and furious at the erosion of her influence, had played her final card. It was a dangerous move, one that could tip the balance of power in Amaravati, and yet, it seemed she had reached a point of no return. It was as if the walls themselves were closing in, her last attempt to claw back what she had lost.Ranajay was still away, dealing with the border disputes that threatened to unravel the peace we had so painstakingly built. The absence of his steady hand left a gaping hole in the court, and Nandini, ever opportunistic, had seized upon it with a viciousness I had never before seen in her. She had begun her machinations well in advance, turning servants, bribing guards, and swaying a small faction of nobles to her side. It would be at the assembly this evening, I knew, that she planned to strike—her attempt to wrest control of the court from me, once and for all.But I would not be caught off guard. I had seen enough of Nandini’s games to know that the final confrontation would come soon. Her manipulations had been subtle at first, but now, they were glaringly obvious, and I was prepared. This was no longer about keeping the kingdom’s peace or rebuilding its foundations; it was about survival, and there could be no more room for weakness.---I stood before the mirror in my chambers, my reflection staring back at me with quiet resolve. My long, black hair cascaded down my back in thick, wavy waves, the strands glistening in the candlelight. The weight of it had always been something I had grown accustomed to, but today, it felt heavier—like the burdens I bore had taken root deep within me. I had once worn my hair loose in celebration, in freedom, but now, as I prepared for the confrontation ahead, it felt like the symbol of my strength, my power, and my lineage. Each movement of my hand as I arranged it was a deliberate act—just as every decision I had made in the past months had been. The long, flowing length of it, a testament to my resilience, reached down to my waist, and I let it cascade freely over my shoulders, unbound. It was a symbolic act, a declaration of what I would fight for tonight.My saree, dark as the storm clouds gathering outside, clung to my frame with an elegance that belied the turmoil beneath. The fabric shimmered faintly in the low light, threads of gold woven through it like the threads of destiny, leading me toward this moment. The edges of the saree were embroidered with intricate designs that symbolized the strength of the Amaravati people—the heart of the kingdom in every stitch. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I could almost hear my ancestors whispering their approval, reminding me of the duty that lay before me.I turned away from the mirror, taking a deep breath, and moved toward the door. The time had come to face Nandini’s final move. I could feel it in the air, the anticipation that gripped my very soul.---The court was already assembling when I arrived, the nobles filing in with their usual pomp and pretense. But as I made my way through the room, the air felt different, charged with an undercurrent I could not ignore. I held my head high, my movements measured as I ascended the dais, where I would preside over the assembly in Ranajay’s stead. My eyes scanned the room, taking in every face, every detail, every change in posture. There was something wrong in the air, something I couldn’t quite place, but I would not let it show.The nobles, for the most part, behaved as they always did, whispering among themselves, exchanging favors, and playing their games of power. But there were a few faces—just a few—that seemed too eager, too insistent in their greetings. A faint smile here, a sideways glance there, and I knew that the storm was about to break. Nandini’s influence had infected the court more deeply than I had realized.My heart quickened, but I steeled myself, for the one thing I had learned in these past years was that fear would not carry me through the night. I was the matriarch now, and no one—not even Nandini—would take that from me.As I took my seat, the doors of the assembly hall burst open. The guards that had once been mine, loyal to the throne, were now aligned with the conspirators. They filed in quickly, their movements too coordinated to be mere coincidence. I didn’t flinch. The room grew still, and I saw the faintest flicker of uncertainty in some of the nobles’ eyes. It was as if they realized, perhaps too late, what was happening.A single voice rose from the crowd, cold and commanding. Nandini herself stepped forward, her smile wide but insincere, the glint of ambition in her eyes unmistakable.“Sanmayi,” she said, her voice sweet as honey yet laced with venom. “It seems our dear kingdom has become quite accustomed to your rule, hasn’t it? Perhaps too accustomed. We must not forget the traditions of Amaravati. There is only one true ruler of this land.”The tension in the room was palpable. I did not rise to meet her gaze immediately. Instead, I let my words sink in as I leaned forward on the throne. “Is that so, Nandini? You forget your place. The throne of Amaravati is not yours to claim, and neither is this court. You have lost your power, and with it, any semblance of honor.”A ripple of murmurs ran through the assembled nobles, some of them clearly shaken by my words. But I could see Nandini’s supporters, those she had worked so tirelessly to sway, bristle with defiance. Their eyes narrowed in response, their hands tightening around the hilts of their swords.“Your words are nothing but empty promises, Sanmayi,” Nandini retorted, stepping closer, her eyes narrowing. “It is time to end this charade. The kingdom needs a true ruler, one who can restore order and strength to Amaravati. And I am that ruler.”Her declaration hung in the air, thick and poisonous. I knew this would be the moment—the moment where everything would come to a head. Nandini had played her hand, but she had underestimated one thing: my determination.I rose from the throne slowly, my saree trailing behind me like a shadow, the gold threads of my gown catching the dim light as I moved. “You have no kingdom, Nandini,” I said firmly, my voice carrying over the murmurs of the assembly. “You may have allies, but I have the people of Amaravati behind me. And that is a power you cannot buy.”There was no time left for subtlety. The guards who had aligned themselves with Nandini began to move toward the dais, but I was already one step ahead. I had anticipated this moment, and I was ready. With a signal to my loyal men hidden throughout the court, the doors of the hall slammed shut with a deafening bang.Nandini’s eyes widened in shock, her hand darting toward her side where the dagger she had concealed was ready to be drawn. But I was faster. In a single fluid motion, I unsheathed my own blade—a gift from my mother, a symbol of my strength—and advanced on her.“You chose the wrong side, Nandini,” I said, my voice cold and steady. “And now you will pay the price for your treachery.”---The clash of metal rang through the hall, but it was not just steel against steel that echoed in my ears. It was the sound of my kingdom’s future hanging in the balance. As I stood there, facing the woman who had once been my closest rival, I knew one thing above all else: I would not allow her to tear down everything I had fought for.