Starveil
Chapter 1 Starveil Begins
In the shimmering world of Chandlok, where stars whispered secrets and magic pulsed through every breath, two girls stood at the edge of a moonlit balcony—Chandini, the soon-to-be Queen of Chandlok, and Roshni, her dearest friend, born of noble blood.
They had grown up together, learned spells under the same masters, danced in the palace halls, and whispered dreams under the night sky.
When the King announced the engagement of Prince Rajveer—Chandini’s elder brother—to Roshni, it was like the stars themselves had blessed their bond. The kingdom celebrated. Roshni and Chandini rejoiced, imagining a future side by side as sisters.
But fate, hidden behind the veil of light, was already weaving a different path...
Two years passed since the joyful wedding of Roshni and Rajveer. The palace halls of Chandlok echoed with laughter, love, and the growing warmth of family. When Roshni discovered she was pregnant, the kingdom rejoiced. It was a time of blooming flowers and glowing skies.
But just as one new life began to form, a shadow crept into Chandini’s heart.
The King, growing older and eager to secure the throne’s future, announced Princess Chandini’s engagement to Mohan, the fearless military commander of Chandlok. Strong, noble, and adored by the people, Mohan was seen as the perfect choice—a protector and future ruler.
Everyone clapped and celebrated... everyone except Chandini.
Behind her graceful smile, her heart stirred with resistance. Mohan was powerful, yes. Loyal, yes. But not the one she chose.
While the kingdom prepared for another grand royal wedding, Chandini stood before her mirror, dressed in jewels and silks… but feeling nothing. Her heart, once proud and obedient, had betrayed the throne long ago.
Because she was in love with someone she could never marry anyone else.
He was Aarav, quiet, watchful, always in the background.
He served in the palace stables, tending to Chandlok’s enchanted beasts.
Their paths had crossed in whispers, in midnight glances, in stolen moments under moonlight.
His touch held no magic, but his presence made her feel alive in a way no royal spell ever could.
She never told Roshni. Never told Rajveer. Never dared to speak of it even in dreams. Because in Chandlok, a princess marrying a servant wasn’t just forbidden—it was unforgivable.
And now, she was being handed to Mohan, the military commander.
A man of strength. A man of power. A man she did not love.
When Chandini stood before the royal court, her voice didn’t shake. “I cannot marry Mohan,” she said. “Because I am already bound to someone… heart, soul, and now—blood.”
Gasps filled the hall. But her next words silenced even the wind.
“I am carrying Aarav’s child.”
Her father—the King of Chandlok—turned to stone. His pride shattered like glass. His rage was fire. And in that fire, he ordered the unthinkable.
That night, Aarav was killed.
His blood spilled not on the battlefield, but in the shadows of palace walls. Chandini was locked in her chambers, pounding on the door, screaming until her voice cracked. When the maid arrived with a silver goblet, her hands shook. The King had ordered poison—to end the shame growing inside her.
Roshni came running, her own heart torn in two. “Please,” she begged. “Drink it. Forget him. Live.”
But Chandini’s eyes burned like fire and tears.
“I would rather carry the memory of love and lose everything… than kill the last piece of him.”
And just before dawn, she vanished.
When the palace guards broke down her door the next morning, all they found was a silk ribbon, fluttering in the wind… and a blood-red rose left on the windowsill.
Chandini was gone. No trace. No footprints. No goodbye. Only silence.
And in that silence, a single truth was born: that love can defy even the most ancient magic.
Somewhere in the land of stars and shadows… the child of that forbidden love would rise.