Epilogue
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"How?" was the only word she got out whilst she stared strenuously at the piece of paper in her arms. She spun around to face the scanty crowd, outraged. Her murderous gaze landed her siblings, maids, and guards.

"I asked you all one question. How did this happen? How did they penetrate through the best security in the whole of Bharatvarsh!?"

Her tone was dripping lethal venom and burning with fire. They had never seen her so furious before, not even her own sister had. They were aghast too, all they could do was lower their heads in the shame pricking at their minds and lick their lips to quench their desolate plains every minute or so.

She looked to the door. "Unless... unless-" The sharp intake of breath pierced through her lungs leaving a searing burn. She clenched and unclenched her fist, breathing out as orders flew from her mouth out of their own accord, "Security must be tightened at once. The maidservants will not be blindly trusted. Nor will the guards. Over the next few months, this will be your main priority. You will be informed of any changes. Dismissed."

Once they were alone, Dipankar frowned, placing an arm on his sister's shoulder in an act of concern. "What is the matter?" he shot a glance at Suruchi. "Is it... what we think it is?"

Revati could only nod as her thoughts scattered all over.

"E-escort the King to a well-prepared guest chamber and see that everything is to his comfort."

Revati turned back to the man in front of her looking at anywhere but his eyes. "Well, enjoy your stay, Your Highness. Make yourself at home," she said, trying to squash the involuntary spark of distrust in her voice.

"Oh, I will. Thank you," he spoke, and the tone of his voice hinted at something else. Revati almost squinted at him in suspicion but held herself back.

"My pleasure," she murmured, eager to get away from his mysterious presence.

She watched in walk into the corridor and turn around a corner.

"Your Majesty?" a squeaky, panicked voice sounded from behind her.

"Yes?" Revati asked the maid, spinning around to face her with a polite smile.

"Pl-please come this way, to your m-mother's chambers. It's an urgent matter."

Revati decided to go with her immediately, the poor girl looked like she'd seen a ghost. Revati hurried up the steps to her mother's chamber. Who knows, maybe she saw my mother and was spooked? She suppressed a giggle.

She felt oddly at unrest today, not too much but a slight bit more than usual.

Her brain couldn't help saying, Because of someone's arrival, isn't it?

Maybe, but it's not right to judge anyone by their lineage, she dismissed the thought. She almost took a wrong turn, drowned in her thoughts. She climbed steadily up the last fleet of stairs, gazing straight at the door of her mother's chambers.

What could've happened? Did a snake enter her chambers? No, the tower is too high. A screeching bird perhaps? Ah yes, a bird dead or alive, is my guess.

Her palm pushed open the door, her feet leading her naught but two paces in before she froze. Her mouth fell open in horror.

It wasn't a snake nor a bird, it was her mother. Her slumped figure on the chair, her hand fisted on her lap, and her eyes... they weren't open nor closed, they were... dead. Devoid of any indication of life in her body.

Her eyes flew to her hand. A dried, dark splotch sat grimly on her wrist, staring at her. Blood. Looks like her mother had left for her ultimate home a while ago.

Revati felt a heavy lump, travel down her throat, as she instructed the guard behind her, her voice breaking, "C-call my brother here. Inform the royal trainer of the news and tell the Commander to be present in the meeting hall in... in a few minutes."

He bowed and left leaving her alone in the room. Revati wasn't sure how much time had passed before her siblings had entered, the sight earning two loud gasps. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? But she seemed to be rooted to her spot, her legs were resolute, standing as firm as pillars.

Her eyes were fixed on her mother's corpse, but what she was seeing was far beyond the physical world.

Her mouth finally parted, whispers tumbling down her lips, "She wasn't the best mother ever- she only ever acted as one up until a few months now. At least- at least she lived a happy woman in the last days of her life. I hope she's finally reunited with her parents and husband living above."

Her eyes stung like hell but that's all it was. She did not cry, she did not bawl, she did not collapse. She could not. Though a bond had existed between them, it was neither completely opaque nor firm.

But when the fog of death and grief cleared away, she frowned. Why is there blood on her wrist and what is she clutching?

Had her mother written something before her passing? Yes, it seemed so, an inkpot and a quill lay on the floor.

Revati hesitantly moved to the figure, breathing out a shudder, and carefully released the stiff and cold fingers to find a crumpled ball of paper. She didn't immediately unfurl the paper to read but moved to her other hand and studied the bloodied wrist.

"Brathaha, take a look at this for me will you?" she beckoned her brother to the place beside her.

Within moments she heard a low gasp from Dipankar. 

"Poison," he choked out.

Their eyes went wide as Revati frantically uncrumpled the paper to read it.

"Commander, I trust you know what happened?" Revati questioned.

"Yes, my queen. My deepest condolences for the death of your moth-" he began but was cut short by the queen.

"Thank you, that's great, let's move on. My mother had pierced the veins in her wrist with a poisoned dagger. A poison great enough to kill the victim within minutes. Dipankar is well versed in herbal medicine and antidotes and identified poison quickly. He is currently working on what type of poison it was."

The commander's face paled. "But our security has been impenetrable always, and more so since your coronation. How could someone get in and assassinate someone? Not any ordinary person but the Queen Mother herself! I will be tightening security at once and will keep an eagle's eye for suspicious people from outside the kingdom."

"Not just outside, Commander. Read this." She handed him the piece of paper. Just the sight of the shaky handwriting told the reader the pain and difficulty of the writer.

I don't have much time left, but I cannot disclose any secrets to you in this letter. Your father had an anonymous enemy who had once attempted to assassinate him and several attempts of sabotages.

She came in and threatened my existence to extract important details of the kingdom. I'd rather die than betray my kingdom.

She left soon after I pierced myself and lay still. All I know is that they are after our country's wealth and power. P-protect it until your last breath, don't let your ancestors' efforts go in vain.

She did not cover her face when she came in, nor did she attempt to pretend as a maid.

Don't get yourselves killed, take care.

A shiver had run up her spine when Revati read her last words. Dipankar had been fuming at the audacity of the assassin. Suruchi was in a grim state, sitting along with her siblings, shaping and contemplating their next move.

"Your Majesty, t-this means that there i-s a..." he trailed off into disbelief.

Revati confirmed all their fears with a nod, shudders running up everyone's spine.

"Yes. A mole in the kingdom. A spy amongst us."

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This is bittersweet, isn't it? The ending of this book, I mean. A huge shoutout to all readers, yes YOU, for supporting me with your helpful comments and encouraging me through your votes throughout this journey!

Please do read the next page for more details on the sequel.

Thank you guys a ton and more!❣️
-Chinmayi Hegde.