The Sunslit opened her eyes just as the sun streamed more intensely into the room. But this was more than just waking up; it was an emergence from an old shell.
First, she remembered the ice-cold touch of Hridoy's hand on her neck, being dragged into the darkness, and finally... the Chamber. The Nexus Chamber.
She sat up abruptly. Her body didn't ache, but her entire being felt filled with a new, cool energy. Her first glance went to the crystal-clear stone resting on her chest. It pulsed faintly in rhythm with her heartbeat, as if all her power had been condensed within the stone. She picked it up—it was icy cold, yet the power contained within was ferociously hot.
Sunslit understood: Hridoy hadn't managed to steal her power last night; instead, the Nexus Chamber had finally sealed her abilities, exactly as her father had intended. She was now the Bearer of the Nexus. She climbed out of bed. Her every step was quiet and decisive. She was no longer looking for an escape; she was now intent on measuring the extent of her power.
She looked at her father's journal lying on the table. Holding the stone, as she touched the leather binding of the journal, a clear, lightning-like thought flashed in her mind: "The secrets are not written; they are within the blood."
She tossed the journal aside. She now held something far more potent than any book.
She stood before the mirror. Her true blue eyes now held not the fire of rebellion, but a steady, cold conviction. There was a slight trace of tiredness around her eyes, but her face was illuminated by a queenly, fierce resolve.
The opposite of what Hridoy wanted had happened. She hadn't been weakened; she had become unconquerable. And with this power, she had to face the remaining three days. Moments later, a knock came at the door. A maid entered with a silver tray.
"It is an order from Maharaja Hridoy," the maid whispered. "He has sent breakfast for you. And he said—you are to meet him in his private garden. Immediately."
Sunslit didn't utter a word. She looked at the maid with such a steady gaze that the maid began to tremble with fear.
"Tell him," Sunslit said in a quiet voice, "I am coming."
The Confrontation in the Garden
Sunslit arrived at the private garden to find Hridoy seated on an ancient stone bench. His face was perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened in the Nexus Chamber the previous night. An open book rested in his hand, which he was reading intently.
Sunslit stopped directly in front of him. Hridoy still didn't look up.
"You are finally awake, my Queen," Hridoy said, his voice soft. "I wished to allow you to sleep a little longer. Rest is needed after a difficult night."
Sunslit gripped the crystal stone on her chest.
"Your plan failed, Hridoy," Sunslit stated directly. There was no fear in her voice, only a cold truth.
Hridoy slowly closed the book and raised his head. His blue eyes were now colder than before. That familiar, calm smile appeared on his face.
"Failed?" Hridoy laughed. "Do you think what happened in the Chamber was against my will? I told you to become powerful, Sunslit. What you read in your father's journal was not just a path of escape; it was the mantra for final preparation. I know your power was not stolen—it was sealed. But do you know the cost?"
Hridoy stood up and took a step toward Sunslit.
"Your Nexus power is now awake, Queen. It has merged with you. This means you now contain all the power of this Manor. And everything that belongs to the Manor, belongs to me."
Hridoy extended his hand. Before he could touch Sunslit, she felt a wave of power in her mind—the energy of the Nexus Chamber.
"By awakening your power," Hridoy said in a low, terrifying voice, "I have not just made you my Queen; I have made you the center of my power. Now you cannot escape me, because you yourself are my asset."
Sunslit recoiled. Using the power she had just gained from the Chamber, she realized—Hridoy was not lying. Her strength was now unified with the Manor's Nexus power. To defeat Hridoy, she would have to defeat not just him, but the entire palace.
Hridoy lowered his hand. "There are three days, Queen. Three days to understand your power. But remember, my game has begun. Will you be able to break this prison with your new power? Or... will you step into a new life with me?"
Hridoy turned, book in hand. Before leaving, he looked back one last time.
"I want to know one thing, Sunslit. Last night you spoke of my first Queen. Do you truly believe she left me?"
He walked away without waiting for an answer. But in his eyes was a flicker of deep melancholy, which momentarily eclipsed his cruelty. Sunslit realized—the First Queen was the only key to this game.
The Secret of Queen Alissa
When the maid entered Sunslit's room, she found Sunslit sitting still, her true blue eyes gazing into some distant past. The tea cup almost fell from the maid's hand, as she saw a new, unfamiliar coldness in the Queen's eyes.
"I have come on the Maharaja's orders, my Queen," the maid whispered.
Sunslit answered calmly: "Sit, I know you have come. I want to ask you something. Do you know why my father brought me back to this Manor, despite the Maharaja's orders?"
The maid lowered her head. "I only know it is a game of fate, my Queen."
"Not fate," Sunslit said, her voice firm. "It was a plan. Now tell me, what is your name?"
"My name is Lisa, my Queen."
Sunslit leaned towards her. The soft glow of the Nexus stone fell upon Lisa's face. Without even using her power, Sunslit pressed Lisa with the sheer intensity of her gaze.
"Lisa, you have been in this palace for many years. Do you know... how the Maharaja's first wife died?"
Lisa's body trembled. She quickly looked around, as if the walls had ears. Her face was etched with fear.
"My Queen, that is a question... that no one utters here," Lisa said, shaking with terror. "The Maharaja absolutely dislikes speaking of this matter. If he hears, he will..."
Sunslit spoke in a quiet but resolute tone, "He will not hear. If you answer my question, I promise to protect you. Because your life is now in my hands. But if you stay silent, your fear will not be in vain. Tell me, who was the first Queen, and what happened to her?"
Lisa understood that the new Queen was not the frightened girl she used to be. The power in her eyes was no less than the Maharaja's own. She quickly made a decision. She opened her mouth and whispered:
"She... she was Queen Alissa. She was exceptionally beautiful, but independent-minded. She was not obedient to the Maharaja; instead, she challenged his authority."
Lisa moved closer and lowered her voice even more:
"Maharaja Hridoy loved her, but he loved his power more. The rumor is, Queen Alissa had learned something about this Nexus power that was a threat to the Maharaja. The Maharaja feared Queen Alissa might use the Nexus's secret power to dethrone him."
Sunslit held her breath, listening.
"Then what happened?" Sunslit asked.
Lisa closed her eyes, as if the scene was still vivid in her mind.
"No one knows for sure, my Queen. We only know—one night, a sharp scream was heard throughout the palace. In the morning, Queen Alissa's room was locked. Maharaja Hridoy announced that the Queen had died due to illness. But... everyone knew she was as healthy as a stone."
Lisa shivered. "But the most terrifying thing is... the Maharaja's eyes. Since the day he announced Queen Alissa's death, there has been no emotion in his eyes. Only that icy cold gaze. And he never utters the first Queen's name."
Lisa looked at Sunslit and pointed to the crystal stone in her hand.
"My Queen, believe me. I suspect the first Queen Alissa also went into this Chamber. I think this stone... was also connected to her."
Sunslit froze. Alissa... Nexus... Chamber. A truth even greater than the journal's secret was unfolding before her.
"Thank you, Lisa," Sunslit finally said. "Your courage has helped me. You may go now. Remember, what you have said is a secret only between you and me."
Lisa quickly left the room, breathing a sigh of relief.
⚔️ The Decision: A War for the Throne
Sunslit now understood, her father didn't want to show her the path of escape. He was preparing her to be the second Queen Alissa, one who could fight against Hridoy.
Hridoy had killed the first Queen because she challenged his power and knew the secret of the Nexus. Now Sunslit held the same power and the knowledge from the journal. By sealing her power in the Chamber, Hridoy had not weakened her; he had effectively trapped himself.
Sunslit made her decision: This fight is not for escape; it is a battle for the throne.
Sunslit now had information. She had two paths forward:
Secret Documents: She must find out what Queen Alissa knew about the Nexus. There must be a hidden archive or secret wing of the library in this Manor that Hridoy guards.
Power Usage (Nexus): Attempt to gain control over the Nexus flow of the Manor using her new power.
The Victor's Smile
As Lisa hurried out of the room, she looked back at Sunslit one last time. And it was then that Lisa's eyes caught sight of Sunslit's face—an unbelievable, terrifying smile.
This smile was calm, yet it concealed a deep conviction and a kind of wild, winner's triumph. Sunslit's light pink (pink) and soft lips seemed newly dewed. This smile brought a completely new allure to her face, where only a moment ago there had been only fear and pain.
Lisa instantly flushed with shame. She quickly turned her face away, thinking to herself: 'This girl possesses something that will challenge all the Maharaja's authority. She is not just powerful; she is dangerously beautiful and perilous.' For the first time, Lisa understood that neither the Maharaja's fear nor his attraction was false for this new Queen.
Sunslit maintained her smile. It didn't fade as Lisa left; instead, it grew deeper. She was no longer a helpless victim; she was a contender. Her smile was the revenge of the first Queen Alissa and the birth of her own new strength.
To the Secret Archive
Sunslit stood up. She had no time to waste. Only three days remained until the wedding. Hridoy had made her the center of his power, but she would use this very center against him.
Queen Alissa knew something about the Nexus power that was a threat to Hridoy. That information must be hidden somewhere in the palace.
Sunslit was certain: what Hridoy hid was not a book or a manuscript—it was Alissa's own secret documentation, which Hridoy hadn't been able to destroy. And the most secure place to hide it would be in the Library's Secret Archive.
She tried to understand the Manor's structure using her Nexus power.
She decided:
No Power Test Now: If she were to test her power with the Nexus stone now, Hridoy would easily detect it and know her next move.
Information is Power: Alissa's knowledge was her only weapon. Without that knowledge, she couldn't use the Nexus power correctly.
Sunslit moved quickly but cautiously toward her room's door.
"I must go to the Library," Sunslit thought to herself. "I have to strike at Hridoy's most vulnerable spot—the secret documents of the past."
The Hidden Panel
Sunslit locked her room and exited. Her steps were silent and quick. She headed straight for the Library, the place where Hridoy had first taken her in his arms.
Entering the Library, she saw everything was the same—ancient wooden shelves, the smell of thousands of books, and in the middle, the table where Arthur's journal had rested.
She knew Hridoy was a man who was always prepared. He might have expected Sunslit to come to the Library.
She carefully began examining the shelves. Her newly awakened Nexus power made her aware of the energy flow around her.
When Sunslit reached the shelf marked "German Royal History," the Nexus stone in her hand suddenly felt slightly warm. This was no ordinary book; it was the signal to Alissa's hidden information.
Sunslit fixed her blue eyes on it. She noticed—the wood on one section of the shelf was slightly mismatched. There might be a secret panel or door there.
Sunslit used a ploy to trick Hridoy. She walked to the table and deliberately dropped a heavy book onto the floor.
'Thud!'—the sound broke the palace's silence.
Sunslit quickly returned to the shelf. If any guard or Hridoy came because of the sound, they would think Sunslit was merely looking through books randomly.
She bit her soft, pink lips and quickly pressed on the mismatched wooden panel.
Immediately, a section of the bookshelf slid aside with a low sound, revealing the darkness within. This was the Secret Archive inside the Library.
Entering the Archive, Sunslit saw it was filled with old documents and rolled maps. But only one thing caught her attention:
A small, gray chest, with the letter 'A' carved on its lid, likely the first letter of Alissa's name.
Sunslit quickly moved toward the chest. She knew she had little time, as Hridoy or his men could arrive at any moment due to the sound.
As she touched the chest, she felt: it was not locked, but a strong magical seal was placed upon it.
She placed the Nexus stone from her hand onto the chest. The stone struck the seal with its power.
The stone glowed intensely. The chest's seal flashed with a bright blue light and instantly shattered!
Sunslit lifted the lid of the chest with trembling hands. Inside was only one item—a thin leather diary, written in the hand of the first Queen Alissa.
On the first page of the diary was only one sentence:
"He cannot kill what he does not own. The Nexus power is not in the heart, but in the Bloodline's Choice."
This information was Hridoy's greatest fear. Sunslit quickly hid the diary in her clothing. She was now ready. She now carried not only Alissa's knowledge but also the seed of her revenge.
Just at that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard outside. It was not normal—it was heavy, quick steps. Hridoy was coming.
Sunslit quickly exited the secret path, closed the shelf, and picked up the book that had fallen to the floor, replacing it in its original spot.
She returned to the table, pretending she had been searching for a book. Hridoy would enter the room at any moment.