Page 59 of The Promised Queen

My breath catches, but I stay silent. I know she wants a reaction.

“Do you know how many calls I still get? How many whispers I hear? They ask why he tolerates it. Why he defends you. He could have had peace. He could have ruled without question. Instead, he is dragged through mud every morning in the papers because of the woman he chose.”

The words cut deeper than I want to admit. Because Ihaveseen it. The headlines, the questions, the sidelong glances. I know what people say when they think I can’t hear.

“You are only causing him trouble,” she presses, her voice sharpened now. “And you think love will be enough to protect him? Love doesn’t silence critics. Love doesn’t preserve crowns.”

Still, I stay quiet. My throat feels too tight for words.

Then she leans forward and her next sentence lands like a blade.

“I have two more capable sons, Meher. Sons who haven’t lost their minds over a girl. Devraj may have stripped me of rights, but don’t forget—I still know how to take away a crown.”

My head jerks, finally turning to look at her. Her face is calm, too calm, her eyes steady like she’s said nothing out of the ordinary.

Something inside me cracks—not in fear, but in bitter disbelief.

And I laugh. Quietly at first, then fuller, a sound edged with something I can’t name.

She frowns faintly. “What is so amusing?”

“How do you live with yourself?” I ask, and the words spill out before I can stop them. “You sit here in front of God, in a temple, and you talk about crowns and power. You talk about your sons like they are pawns on a board, not people. How do you pray with that much venom in your heart?”

Her eyes narrow.

“Tell me,” I push, my voice rising. “Do you even see him anymore? Raja-sa. Not the king. Not the heir. Your son. Theboy who grew up in this palace, the boy who spent his entire life trying to live up to your impossible expectations. Do you remember him?”

The silence that follows feels heavier than her words. Her lips press thin, and for a second, I think I see something flicker in her eyes. But then it’s gone, replaced with cold steel.

“You presume too much,” she says dismissively.

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head, suddenly exhausted. “I see too much. That’s the problem.”

I stand abruptly, the match falling forgotten into the thali. I don’t want to sit in front of the goddess anymore. Not like this. Not with her shadow pressing in.

I walk out without waiting for Sitara to return, without offering a final bow, my footsteps echoing too loud in the quiet corridor.

And as soon as I’m alone, away from Rajmata’s eyes, the weight of her words finally sinks in.

Because she isn’t entirely wrong, is she?

Controversy after controversy. Raja-sa defending me, standing tall while the world throws stones. And every time, I tell myself we can bear it together. But what if it’s too much? What if I am only breaking him, piece by piece, while pretending we are strong? He has already had one woman, his mother, ruining him. I don’t want to join the queue. I would rather die than do that to him.

I press my hand against the wall, my breath unsteady.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe I am selfish. Maybe all I’ve ever done is cause harm to the man I love.

He has gone through enough. More than enough.

And I cannot—will not—be the reason he loses everything.

The thought takes shape slowly, painfully, but once it’s there, I can’t shake it.

This must end.

Whatever it takes, however it hurts—this must end.

CHAPTER 43