Chapter 46: chapter 46

The hall of Amaravati felt colder than Sanmayi had imagined. Its towering marble pillars, polished floors, and gilded tapestries bore the scars of war—fine cracks spidering through the stone, banners that once gleamed with regality now frayed at the edges. Despite the grandeur, the air was thick with tension, as though the walls themselves held their breath.Sanmayi sat at the far end of the council chamber, her gaze fixed on the nobles seated around the long table. Their faces were carefully composed, masks of civility barely hiding their disdain. She had expected resistance to her presence here, but the weight of their collective animosity still pressed against her.Ranajay stood at the head of the table, his voice steady as he addressed the gathering. His newly donned crown rested uneasily on his brow, as if it, too, questioned his right to be there.“We have seen the cost of division,” he said, his tone firm but laced with weariness. “If we are to rebuild Amaravati, it will require cooperation—from all of us.”A low murmur rippled through the room. Sanmayi could feel their eyes darting toward her, their skepticism palpable.“Cooperation?” one noblewoman said, her tone sharp. She was a tall, angular figure with piercing eyes—Lady Vashini, one of King Jayavikram’s staunchest supporters. “With respect, Your Majesty, inviting rebels into this council hardly seems like a step toward unity.”Sanmayi’s jaw tightened, but she held her tongue. She had expected such barbs.Ranajay’s gaze flickered to her briefly before returning to the room. “Sanmayi is here because she represents a voice we cannot afford to ignore. The rebels fought not just against the throne but for the people—people who have suffered under our rule. Ignoring them now would only sow further discord.”“And yet,” Lord Devendra interjected, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “placing a former rebel at this table may only deepen that discord. Surely you see the risk, Your Majesty.”Sanmayi rose to her feet, her voice cutting through the murmurs like steel. “You speak of risk, Lord Devendra, but what of the risks you took that led us here? The rebellion didn’t arise in a vacuum. It was the result of your unchecked greed, your disregard for the people you swore to protect.”The room fell silent, save for the faint creak of chairs as nobles shifted uncomfortably.“And you believe you’re their savior now?” Lady Vashini sneered. “A rebel with blood on her hands, preaching morality?”Sanmayi met her gaze steadily. “I am no savior. But I have fought for those who had no voice. And I will continue to fight for them, whether or not I sit at this table.”Ranajay’s voice broke through the tension. “Enough. We are here to discuss the future, not to rehash old grievances.”Sanmayi sat back down, her fists clenched under the table. She could feel Ranajay’s eyes on her, but she refused to look at him. Their alliance might have been necessary, but it was far from easy.Later, as the council dispersed, Sanmayi lingered in the chamber, staring at the map spread across the table. It detailed the provinces of Amaravati, many of them now in disarray. Rebuilding wouldn’t be easy, especially with the nobles working against her at every turn.“You handled them well,” Ranajay’s voice came from behind her.She turned to find him watching her, his expression unreadable. His crown had been removed, leaving his dark hair slightly disheveled. In that moment, he looked less like a king and more like the man she had once known—a man she had hated, and perhaps something more.“They’ll never trust me,” she said flatly.“They don’t trust me either,” he replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “That makes two of us.”She shook her head, her tone sharp. “You don’t understand, Ranajay. To them, I’m not just an outsider—I’m a threat. Every step I take here is a reminder of what they lost.”“And what about what you’ve lost?” he asked quietly.Her breath hitched, but she quickly masked her reaction. “What I’ve lost doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is making sure this doesn’t happen again.”He stepped closer, his voice soft. “It matters, Sanmayi. If we’re going to rebuild, we can’t do it while carrying the weight of the past alone.”Her eyes met his, and for a moment, the room seemed to shrink around them. The anger and pain that had defined their relationship were still there, but beneath them lay something unspoken—a fragile understanding, perhaps even a shared grief.“Do you really think peace is possible?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.“I have to believe it is,” he said. “Otherwise, what’s the point of all this?”She looked away, her gaze returning to the map. “Belief isn’t enough. Not when there are people like Nandini plotting in the shadows.”Ranajay’s expression darkened at the mention of Nandini. “She won’t win. Not this time.”Sanmayi arched an eyebrow. “You sound certain.”“I’ve learned not to underestimate her,” he admitted. “But I’ve also learned that she thrives on division. If we stand together, she won’t succeed.”Sanmayi’s laugh was bitter. “Standing together. That’s a nice sentiment. But it’s not that simple, is it?”“No,” he agreed. “It’s not. But it’s a start.”For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.Finally, Sanmayi broke the silence. “I’ll stay, Ranajay. I’ll fight for this fragile peace of yours. But don’t mistake this for trust. Not yet.”“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, a hint of a smile returning to his face.As she turned to leave, she felt his gaze linger on her, and for the first time, she wondered if peace was truly within their grasp—or if it was merely another illusion, as fleeting as the embers of war.