The doors creaked open, their sound swallowed by the vast silence of the royal hall. Roohi stepped in hesitantly, her bare feet pressing against cold marble polished so bright she could almost see her reflection tremble in it.
Gold pillars rose like trees around her, carved with stories of gods and kings.
~
The guards stopped at the center and bowed low. "Your Majesty, she came from beyond the forest. Says she's from the outer world."
A ripple of silk broke the stillness. From behind the veils, Rani Sa appeared — tall and graceful, her presence commanding even the air to still.
Her eyes, dark and wise, studied Roohi with quiet intensity.
"Leave us," she said softly.
The guards obeyed and the heavy doors shut again, sealing Roohi alone with the queen. The silence now was different — sharper, as if the hall itself listened.
Roohi drew a breath and bowed her head. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
One of Rani Sa's brows arched ever so slightly. "You know our ways of greeting?"
"Only from stories," Roohi murmured. "But I wanted to show respect."
A flicker of amusement touched the queen's lips. "You have manners rare even among those born here. What is your name?"
"Roohi," she said.
"Roohi," the queen repeated, tasting the word. "The soul. Fitting, for someone caught between worlds."
She descended a few steps from her throne, the jewels on her bangles whispering as she walked around Roohi in a slow circle. "The guards say you came through the forest. Do you even know what lies in those woods?"
"Only fear," Roohi whispered. "Darkness that almost felt alive."
"And yet, you survived." The queen's tone held a note of intrigue. "Either it spared you—or it marked you."
Roohi's gaze dropped. "I wasn't looking for fate. I was just running."
"Running never saves anyone," Rani Sa said quietly. "It only leads you back to what you fear most. What were you running from, child?"
"Betrayal," Roohi said after a long pause.
"My father was killed. Our home taken.
There was nowhere else to go."
For a heartbeat, even the torches seemed to dim.
The queen's eyes softened slightly. "The outer world still devours its own, I see. Some wounds never change."
She moved back to her throne and sat, her gaze still locked on Roohi. "What did you hope to find in that cursed forest?"
"Nothing," Roohi replied. "Maybe silence. Maybe peace."
A faint laugh escaped Rani Sa. "Peace is not what this realm gives. It offers truth — cruel and beautiful truth."
"Then maybe that's what I need."
The queen tilted her head, truly seeing her now. "You speak with courage for someone who's lost everything." Her tone shifted, unreadable. "Perhaps there's more to you than even you realize."
A long pause followed. Then Rani Sa lifted her hand slightly. "Send word to the prince," she called toward the door.
Roohi's heart thudded. The prince?
Rani Sa's gaze softened, but her words were edged in warning. "Be careful, Roohi. You've stepped into a world where love, loyalty, and destiny twist together. The forest may have spared you — but this kingdom will test you.
The hall grew silent - so silent that even the soft flame of the torches seemed to bow in reverence.
Then, the great doors opened.
A figure walked in tall, graceful, draped in deep maroon robes embroidered with gold that caught the light like liquid fire. A faint gust followed him, carrying the scent of sandalwood and rain.
Roohi froze.
He wasn't just handsome he was the kind of beauty that didn't need to be understood. The kind that made time forget to move. His presence filled the room like music - calm yet commanding, soft yet impossible to ignore.
Prince Arshin Singh Shekhawat, heir of the Shekhawat dynasty son of the Rani Sa, ruler of a realm hidden by fate itself.
He walked with a gentle confidence, bowing slightly to Rani Sa before his warm, steady eyes found Roohi.
"Mother," he said softly, "you called for me?"
Rani Sa's voice was serene. "Yes. Meet her she's Roohi .She came through the Forbidden Forest."
A hint of surprise flickered across his face not disbelief, but concern.
His gaze softened as it lingered on Roohi, taking in her tired posture, her trembling hands, the fear hiding behind her eyes.
He stepped closer. The sound of his boots against the marble echoed through the chamber like a heartbeat.
Their heartbeats beating fast compared to the cold marble floor giving them heat they didn't noticed before!
"You must have gone through much," he said gently, circling around her .
"The forest isn't forgiving to strangers."
Roohi's voice trembled as she bowed slightly.
"I didn't mean to intrude, Your Highness. I... I lost my way."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Perhaps you were meant to lose it," he murmured.
"Sometimes the wrong roads lead us to the right place."
She looked at him and both lost in eachother unaware of their surroundings.
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