Chapter 78: chapter 78

S A N M A Y I The grand dining hall of Amaravati glimmered under the soft glow of oil lamps and chandeliers. Rows of silver platters gleamed, heaped with delicacies from every corner of the kingdom. The banquet was a spectacle of opulence, meant to showcase the strength and unity of the realm. Yet beneath the gilded surface, tensions simmered like a pot on the verge of boiling over.I took my seat beside Ranajay, my senses heightened. Every gesture, every murmured word, carried an undercurrent of suspicion. The nobles assembled were a mix of allies, skeptics, and opportunists. Some had sworn loyalty to our rule; others bore the faintest glint of hostility in their eyes, masked behind smiles.Ranajay leaned toward me, his voice low. “Stay vigilant,” he murmured. “Tonight feels... wrong.”I nodded, scanning the room. My gaze fell on Nandini, resplendent in a deep crimson sari, seated next to King Jayavikram. Her demeanor was serene, almost unnervingly so, as if she relished the tension she had undoubtedly sown. Her laughter rang out at some jest from a neighboring noble, but her eyes, sharp and calculating, darted briefly to me.A servant approached, bowing deeply before presenting goblets of wine. Ranajay accepted his with a cursory glance, but I hesitated, something in the servant’s demeanor pricking at my instincts. The man’s hands trembled ever so slightly as he set my goblet down, his eyes avoiding mine.“Thank you,” I said, my tone measured, and he retreated swiftly. I reached for the goblet but stopped when Ranajay’s hand covered mine.“I’ll drink from it first,” he said, his voice a quiet steel.I shook my head. “You’re the king. If anything happens to you—”“And you’re my queen,” he interrupted, his jaw tight. “If anything happens to you, Sanmayi, I—”A sharp pain lanced through my chest, and my breath hitched. I hadn’t even sipped the wine. Confusion gave way to horror as the room tilted. My vision blurred, and I clutched the edge of the table for support.“Sanmayi!” Ranajay’s voice cut through the haze as he caught me before I collapsed. Chaos erupted around us—the scrape of chairs, the clatter of goblets falling to the floor. My body felt heavy, my limbs unresponsive. I struggled to speak, to reassure him, but darkness clawed at the edges of my mind.---I awoke to the faint scent of herbs and the steady murmur of voices. My body ached, my throat parched, but I was alive. Slowly, I turned my head, the effort monumental, and saw Ranajay sitting beside me, his face pale and drawn. Relief flooded his eyes when he saw I was awake.“Sanmayi,” he breathed, taking my hand in his. His grip was warm, grounding me in the present. “You’re safe.”“What... happened?” My voice was barely a whisper, each word a struggle.“You were poisoned,” he said, his expression darkening. “But the healer arrived in time. You’ll recover.”“Poisoned...” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. Memories of the banquet surfaced, disjointed and surreal. “Who?”“That’s what I intend to find out,” Ranajay said, his voice hard. “I’ve already begun questioning the servants and nobles present. Someone in that hall wanted you dead.”The thought sent a shiver through me. “Nandini,” I managed, the name carrying all the venom I felt. “It has to be her.”Ranajay’s eyes narrowed. “She’s the obvious suspect, but this attack was too bold, too reckless for her usual schemes. It may be someone else entirely, using her as a distraction.”A knock at the door interrupted us, and Lord Kalind entered, his expression grave. He bowed deeply before speaking. “Your Majesties, we’ve detained the servant who delivered the goblet. He tried to flee the palace shortly after the banquet.”Ranajay stood, his presence towering. “Bring him to the council chamber. Now.”---The servant was brought before us, his face ashen and his eyes darting wildly around the chamber. He knelt, trembling, as Ranajay loomed over him.“Speak,” Ranajay commanded, his voice cold. “Who ordered you to poison the queen?”“I... I don’t know what you mean, Your Majesty,” the servant stammered. “I did nothing—”“Lies,” Ranajay snapped, his fist slamming onto the table. The sound echoed through the chamber, and the servant flinched. “You tried to run. Why?”The servant hesitated, beads of sweat forming on his brow. “I... I was afraid,” he mumbled. “I saw what happened to the queen, and I panicked.”“Afraid of what?” I interjected, my voice still weak but laced with authority. “Afraid of being caught, or afraid of whoever ordered you to act?”The man’s eyes flicked to me, his lips trembling. “I swear, I had no choice,” he whispered. “They said they’d kill my family if I didn’t obey.”“Who?” Ranajay demanded, stepping closer. “Give us a name.”The servant’s gaze darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. Finally, he whispered, “Lord Devavrata.”A collective gasp rippled through the chamber. Devavrata, the seasoned noble who had always been a vocal critic of mine but had never openly defied Ranajay. It seemed too convenient, too simple.“Why would Devavrata risk such an open attack?” I asked, my suspicion growing. “He’s cunning enough to know he’d be the first suspect.”Ranajay nodded, his expression grim. “And yet his name is the one offered to us. This could be a diversion—or a deeper game.”Kalind stepped forward. “Should we detain Devavrata, Your Majesty?”“No,” I said firmly, surprising even myself. “If he’s innocent, we risk alienating a powerful ally. If he’s guilty, he’ll expect us to act immediately. Let him think he’s safe. We’ll watch him closely.”Ranajay looked at me, pride flickering in his eyes. “Agreed,” he said. “But we must be cautious. This conspiracy runs deeper than we thought.”---As the investigation continued, the palace buzzed with whispers and unease. Every glance, every word, carried an edge of suspicion. Ranajay and I worked tirelessly, unraveling the threads of the conspiracy, but the poisoner’s true master remained elusive.One evening, as we reviewed the evidence in our chambers, Ranajay turned to me, his expression weary but determined. “Sanmayi,” he said softly, “I can’t lose you. Not to this. Not to them.”“You won’t,” I replied, taking his hand. “We’ve faced worse together. Whoever seeks to divide us will fail.”He pulled me into an embrace, his strength grounding me. “They may strike again,” he warned. “We must be ready.”“We will be,” I said, my voice steady. “Because this kingdom is ours, and no amount of poison or treachery will take it from us.”As the night deepened, I found myself staring out the window, the city of Amaravati spread before me. Somewhere in its shadows, our enemies plotted and schemed. But I would not let fear take root in my heart. This was my kingdom, my throne, and my fight. And I would face it with courage, no matter the cost.