,A few days later under the guise of seeking solitude, Viddhi wandered into the secluded gardens at the rear of the palace, a place rarely frequented by the court. Her steps were purposeful, her eyes scanning not the flowers, but the shadows and alcoves. She paused near an ancient banyan tree, its massive, serpentine roots digging deep into the palace walls like nature's own sentinels. It was then that she heard it—the low murmur of voices from behind the thick trunk.
"...still no trace. Prince Veer Pratap has vanished as if the earth swallowed him whole."
Viddhi's heart skipped a single, painful beat. She pressed herself against the rough bark, her breathing shallow, and listened.
A second, gruffer voice replied, "It preys on Maharaj Vidhaan's mind every single day. He says if Veer Pratap lives, he will surely return one day."
"But it's been a year with no sign. Perhaps he is dead..."
"Do not forget, Veer Pratap was no ordinary warrior. That night, he escaped with his sister. The word is he's still hiding somewhere, gathering an army."
Viddhi's breath hitched, her hands trembling. Her brother was alive! He was out there, somewhere!
: A Dangerous Search
Emboldened by the soldiers' words, Viddhi made a daring decision that very night. Using her intimate knowledge of the palace's forgotten arteries, she navigated a series of secret passages, her heart a frantic drum in the silence. Her destination: Raja Vidhaan's private study. If there were clues to be found, they would be there.
In the dim, flickering light of a single candle she dared to light, her eyes fell upon an old sword discarded in a corner. Her breath caught in her throat. That sword... it belonged to her brother, Veer Pratap! The emblem of Suryagarh was etched into the hilt, and upon closer inspection, she could see his name engraved along the base.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Panic flared. She extinguished the candle in a hurry and ducked behind a heavy velvet curtain, her body tensed.
The door creaked open. Raja Vidhaan entered, followed by his commander, Kaal Bhairav.
"Still no news?" Vidhaan's voice was a low growl of frustration.
"None, Maharaj. But we have received new information. Some villagers report seeing a mysterious warrior in the neighboring forest. He helps the poor and speaks of Suryagarh's old reign."
Vidhaan's voice erupted in a guttural roar, "Find him! Alive or dead! I want to see his head on a platter!"
: The Secret of the Forest
The next day, Viddhi used her now-familiar excuse of a garden stroll to slip out of the palace through the same hidden route. Her destination was the forest she had heard about the previous night. Each step away from the palace walls felt like a step towards hope.
Pushing through the dense foliage, she heard a strange, rhythmic sound. Following it, she moved deeper into the woods. Suddenly, a man emerged from behind a large tree. His face was concealed by a simple, wooden mask.
"What are you doing here?" the man asked, his voice a harsh whisper.
Viddhi gathered her courage, her voice firm despite her fear. "I... I am looking for Prince Veer Pratap."
The masked man stared at her, astonished. "Who are you?"
"I am his sister. Vidhika."
The man slowly removed his mask. It was Rudra—the same man she had encountered before in the cave.
"Princess! How are you here? It is too dangerous!"
"Where is my brother, Rudra? I must see him!"
Rudra glanced around nervously. "He is safe, but not now. Vidhaan's spies are everywhere. You are safer within the palace walls for now. We will send you a message."
The Needle of Suspicion
When Viddhi returned to the palace, Raja Vidhaan was waiting outside her chamber. A strange, unreadable glint was in his eyes.
"Maharani, how was your walk in the gardens today?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.
Viddhi's heart pounded, but she kept her voice even. "Very pleasant, Maharaj. I saw some new varieties of roses."
"Alone?" Vidhaan pressed, his gaze sharp.
"Yes, alone." Viddhi attempted a smile.
Vidhaan studied her for a long moment, then said, "Next time, take your guards with you. The forest... can be dangerous."
Viddhi understood perfectly. He was suspicious of her.
: The Threat & The Mysterious Help
That night, Viddhi found a note tucked under her pillow. It read:
"Be careful. Your every move is being watched. Your next stroll could be your last. - A well-wisher"
A chill ran down her spine. Was this a warning from Vidhaan? Or from someone else?
The next day, as she sat in the gardens, an old gardener approached her. "For you, Maharani," he said, handing her a single, perfect rose.
As she took it, her fingers brushed against a small piece of paper tucked within its petals. She discreetly read it:
"Do not worry. We are with you. Be ready, a sign will come soon. - A true soldier of Suryagarh"
She hid the note in the folds of her dress, a new spark of hope igniting within her. She was not alone. Somewhere, her brother and his loyalists were working to help her.
The Burning Secret & The Necklace of Deceit
Viddhi hurried back to her chamber and bolted the door. She retrieved the small note from the gardener, preparing to burn it as a precaution. She lit a candle and brought the edge of the paper to the flame. Just as it began to curl and blacken, the door swung open without warning.
Raja Vidhaan stood there. "Maharani, what are you doing?" His voice was calm, but his eyes were everywhere at once.
Viddhi's heart froze. She tried to hide the burning note, but it slipped from her trembling fingers and fell to the floor. Vidhaan moved with startling speed, stamping it out with his boot.
"Maharaj! You... you startled me," Viddhi stammered, her voice shaking.
"I just arrived. What were you burning?" His gaze was a physical weight, pinning her in place.
Viddhi quickly composed herself, weaving a lie with practiced ease. "It was nothing, Maharaj... just a letter."
"A letter? From whom?" Suspicion laced his tone.
Viddhi took a deep breath and painted a convincingly shy smile on her face. "It was... a letter I was writing to Mother. But the handwriting was not to my satisfaction. I thought I would burn it and start anew."
Vidhaan studied her face for a long moment, then a slow, charming smile spread across his lips. "Oh, Maharani, why would you do that? Your handwriting is exquisite." He stepped closer, the air suddenly thick with a dangerous, romantic tension.
Viddhi let out a silent breath of relief. "But Maharaj, if you had read it, you would have laughed. I was writing childish things."
Vidhaan laughed, a rich, warm sound that felt utterly out of place. "I would never mock you, Maharani." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. "I actually came here with a gift for you."
He opened the box to reveal a breathtaking necklace, a cascade of diamonds and pearls that shimmered in the candlelight.
"This... this is beautiful, Maharaj," Viddhi said, genuinely surprised.
"May I have the honor of putting it on you myself?" Vidhaan asked, his voice dropping to an intimate murmur.
Viddhi hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded her assent, her heart thudding for a different reason now.
Vidhaan stood behind her before the mirror. His fingers were surprisingly gentle as he brushed her hair aside and fastened the cold, heavy necklace around her throat. In the mirror, she watched his hands, so close to her neck. A violent thought screamed in her mind: 'Did these hands sever my father's head? Did they strike down my mother?'
"It looks even more beautiful on you," Vidhaan murmured, his eyes meeting hers in the reflection. His admiration seemed genuine, twisting the knife of her deception deeper.
Viddhi stared silently at their reflection—the benevolent king and his blushing queen. The necklace felt like a gilded chain, a symbol of the gilded cage she was in.
: Sudden Summons & The Cliffhanger
Just then, a soldier knocked and entered. "Maharaj, Chacha Veervar Singh requests your presence immediately. It is urgent."
Vidhaan looked at Viddhi's reflection. "I must go, Maharani. We will continue this... later."
He left, and the moment the door closed, Viddhi tore the necklace off as if it were a venomous snake, dropping it onto the table. She slumped into a chair, tears of frustration and exhaustion welling in her eyes. The constant performance was draining her soul.
Wiping her tears, she stood up, resolve hardening her features. She walked to the window, looking out at the kingdom she would reclaim. As her eyes scanned the horizon, they fell upon the old, abandoned watchtower at the edge of the palace grounds. There, just for a second, she saw a flicker of light—a deliberate, rhythmic flash, like a signal.
: It was the same pattern of flashes she and Veer had used as children to communicate secretly across the palace. Her brother wasn't just alive. He was here, watching, waiting. And he had just made contact.