Chapter 72: chapter 72

S A N M A Y I The days following the council had passed with little outward disruption. The nobility, though still wary, had begrudgingly accepted our authority, for the time being. The rebels, on the other hand, remained divided, their leaders vacillating between negotiation and revolt. But beneath the surface of the palace’s daily operations, a sense of unease simmered. I could feel it in my bones, the quiet pressure of hidden threats that seemed to lurk around every corner. In the depths of the royal palace, where whispers echoed louder than the clinking of royal jewelry, there was something—or someone—betraying us.It began with small things. Rumors that shouldn’t have been known outside the court’s walls reached my ears. Information about internal strategies, the locations of secret meetings, even the daily movements of Ranajay and me. These whispers were too precise, too timely to be mere coincidence. Someone had been feeding information, and the thought made my blood run cold.I sat in my chambers one evening, alone except for the quiet flickering of candles and the distant sounds of the palace settling into its night routine. My mind raced through the possibilities. Who could it be? Who in our inner circle could betray us so completely?"Your Highness," came a voice from the doorway, breaking my thoughts. I turned to see a servant, her eyes wide with anxiety."What is it?" I asked, already sensing that something was amiss."One of the guards, Your Highness," she said, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "He... he says there’s something he needs to tell you. Something urgent.""Bring him to me."Moments later, a young guard entered my chambers, his face pale. "Your Highness," he began, bowing low, "I… I fear there is a spy in the palace. I’ve seen him, a man in the kitchens, talking to one of the servants who works closely with Lady Nandini’s attendants. I overheard part of their conversation. They were discussing you and the prince, Your Highness. The plans… the arrangements."I nodded, motioning for him to continue. "What else did you hear?"The guard hesitated. "Only that there were instructions to pass on specific information to someone named Nandini… and a man who is close to the king. I couldn’t hear the rest. But I thought you should know."My stomach tightened at the mention of Nandini. It had to be her—she had been behind every attempt to undermine us, every subtle move against our authority. But to think she had a spy in our own palace, within our inner circle—this was a new level of treachery."Thank you for bringing this to my attention," I said, my voice firm. "You have done well. Do not speak of this to anyone else."The guard nodded, and I dismissed him with a wave of my hand, my thoughts racing. I had to be careful. If there was a traitor among us, I could not afford to act rashly. It could be anyone—someone I trusted, someone I had welcomed into my inner circle. The possibility made my heart heavy, but I knew I could not let this fester. It was time to investigate.The next days passed in a haze of careful observation. I spoke with Ranajay, but I kept my concerns hidden, not wanting to cause undue alarm. He trusted his court, his servants, as I did, but I could not ignore the sense of betrayal that clung to the air. I had to be vigilant.It was during one of the many meetings with the royal council that I saw something—small, but telling. A servant, one I had never seen before, stood too close to the corner where Ranajay and I had just finished discussing strategy. His eyes flicked between us and the others in the room, a look of barely concealed nervousness in his expression. I had seen that look before—it was the look of someone who knew too much, someone who had been watching from the shadows.I made a note of his face, then turned my attention back to the matters at hand, pretending not to notice. But inside, my heart began to pound. Could he be the one? The spy? I had to find out.Over the next few days, I kept a close watch on the servant. He was always in the background, moving through the hallways, appearing at inopportune moments, too quick to catch in conversation but always present, always listening. I took note of the places he frequented, the people he spoke to, and I found that he often went to the kitchens, the very same place the guard had mentioned.I had no doubt now. He was connected to Nandini. But the question was how, and more importantly, why had I not seen this sooner?I could not allow this man to slip away unnoticed. If he was indeed the spy, then it was time to confront him—but not yet. I needed proof, undeniable proof, before I made my move.That night, after everyone had gone to bed, I donned a cloak of anonymity and made my way to the kitchens. I kept to the shadows, moving silently through the dimly lit corridors. The servant was there, just as I had suspected, speaking in hushed tones to another figure, one I could not yet identify.I stepped closer, careful not to make a sound. The conversation was muffled, but I could hear enough to make out the name that sent a chill down my spine."It is done," the servant said, his voice low. "I’ve passed on the message to Lady Nandini. She is pleased with your progress."The other figure nodded, and I could see enough of his face now to recognize him. It was one of the palace guards, a man I had once considered a trusted ally."You are certain no one suspects you?" the guard asked, his voice urgent."Of course. I’ve kept my distance. Nandini’s plans are unfolding. The queen won’t even know what hit her."The words struck like a blow. Betrayal, treachery, all wrapped in a web of deceit. Nandini had been playing us all along, weaving a network of spies right under our noses.I retreated silently, my heart heavy with the knowledge of what I had just uncovered. I had known that Nandini would not give up so easily, but I had underestimated the depths of her schemes. This was no longer just about power. It was about survival. She was playing a dangerous game, one in which Ranajay and I were the targets.I didn’t know what the next steps would be, but I knew this: the time for passive observation was over. Ranajay and I would face this threat head-on, with all the cunning and resolve we could muster. The kingdom would not fall to a traitor—not while we still breathed.I made my way back to my chambers, where Ranajay was waiting, his expression calm but knowing. He could sense the shift in the air, the change in my demeanor."What is it, Sanmayi?" he asked, his voice gentle.I met his gaze, my heart heavy but resolute. "We have a spy in our midst, Ranajay. And it’s time we exposed the truth."He didn’t hesitate. "Then we do it together."And together, we would face the darkness ahead, trusting in each other, and in the kingdom we swore to protect.