Chapter 57 Whispers in the South wing
The grand courtroom gradually emptied, the weight of the announcement still hanging in the air like a thick fog.
One by one, ministers, nobles, and generals rose from their seats, the rustle of fabric and muffled murmurs echoing under the domed ceiling.
No one dared to speak too loudly; the revelation of Sana's identity had shocked them to the core.
Hatim lingered for a moment, his eyes locked onto Sana's tear-soaked gaze. His jaw clenched, shoulders stiff, emotions raging behind his impassive mask. Their eyes met one last time-long enough to whisper a thousand unspoken words and too short to hold onto any of them.
He turned away.
The doors closed behind him with a cold thud.
Now only Queen Roshni and Sana stood in the silence of the courtroom. The chandeliers above sparkled, oblivious to the storm that had just passed through their kingdom.
Roshni walked toward Sana, her expression unreadable-too calm for a queen who had just seen the ghost of the past rise before her.
"So," she said, stopping a few steps away. "What is your name?"
The question came out sharp, slicing the tension like a dagger. It broke the fragile eye contact between Sana and Hatim, snapping her back to this cruel, regal reality. Sana's eyes blinked rapidly, as if waking from a dream.
Both she and Hatim had been crying. Neither of them had realized until that moment.
But Hatim was gone now.
And only the queen remained.
Sana straightened her spine, lifting her chin with quiet pride. "You know who I am."
Roshni's lips curled in a ghost of a smirk. "Do you think you can prove yourself?"
Sana's eyes narrowed. Her voice was low but steady. "Don't take tension about me, Your Majesty. Take tension about yourself. Because I will not let you live peacefully... not after what you've done to me, my parents, Hatim, and our child."
A flicker crossed Roshni's face-just for a second. Then it was gone, replaced by that cold regality once more.
"Let's see," Roshni said simply.
She turned to a maid standing nearby and said, "Escort Miss Sana to the South Wing. That's where all outsiders stay."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the maid replied, bowing slightly.
Without another glance, Roshni swept out of the courtroom, her gown trailing like shadows behind her.
Sana followed the maid in silence.
The corridors of Chandlok Palace felt heavier now. Every step echoed with memories. The South Wing was distant from the royal chambers, meant for guests and outsiders-those who did not belong.
Sana was once a dream in these halls. Now she was a stranger in them.
The maid led her to a modest room, the farthest from the main court. It was clean, but cold. Sterile. Nothing like the room she had once called her own.
After the maid left, Sana stood in the middle of the room, staring blankly at the embroidered curtains fluttering slightly from the wind outside. The silence was deafening. She sat on the edge of the bed, and just like that, his words echoed in her mind again.
"I don't believe in ghosts from the past."
"You should've stayed gone."
"Everything between us was a lie."
Tears welled up again.
No, she had told herself she would not cry.
But grief had no boundaries when the wound was fresh.
Suddenly, she heard the faintest creak. Her senses sharpened.
"Who's there?" Sana asked, wiping her tears quickly.
A figure emerged from the shadows of the doorway, a familiar softness in her movements.
"It's me," the voice whispered.
"Meher?" Sana's eyes widened.
Meher rushed toward her and embraced her tightly. "I missed you so much."
Sana held onto her like a lifeline. "I thought I would never see you again."
"You don't know how much everything has changed," Meher said, pulling back, eyes glistening with emotion. "Nothing is like before."
Sana looked into her friend's eyes, searching. "Why, Meher? Why has Hatim changed so much?"
Meher hesitated. Then the truth poured out like a flood. "Roshni poisoned his heart against you. From the moment you disappeared, she filled his ears with lies. She told him you ran away. That you betrayed him. That you were never meant to be queen."
Sana's heart clenched.
"He believed her," Meher continued, voice breaking. "And when he couldn't find you, his grief hardened into hatred. He forbade anyone from even saying your name. No one is allowed to talk about you. And I... I'm not even allowed to be near you. If anyone finds out I'm here-"
"Then don't stay," Sana said firmly, taking Meher's hands. "You are more than a sister to me. I won't let you be punished because of me."
"I don't care-" Meher began.
"But I do," Sana interrupted. "You've already risked everything by coming here. That's enough. Please, Meher... go."
They held each other once more, two hearts tangled in sorrow and sisterhood.
"I'll come when I can," Meher whispered before slipping out the door like a shadow.
Sana sat in silence again.
But this time, she wasn't alone in her heart.
And she wasn't done fighting.
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Author's Note ??
Ahh this chapter had my heart heavy while writing ???? Sana's pain... Meher's loyalty... and Roshni's coldness ??-everything's getting intense now! The palace may be shining on the outside, but the storm inside is just beginning. Brace yourself for more drama, emotions and truths unfolding ??????
As always, thanks for reading, bbys! Your support means the moon and stars ????
#TeamSana or #TeamRoshni? ??
Drop your thoughts below ??