Chapter 4: The Bargain Sealed

The Maharani saw me and, for the first time, spoke at length.

Her words spilled out in a torrent, more than she’d ever said to me before.

"Meera, the palace walls devour people. I live every day in fear—afraid the food is poisoned, afraid at night, afraid even my clothes and jewellery are laced with something. I’m the favoured Maharani; they all watch me, jealous."

She spoke with haunted eyes, her voice trembling with exhaustion. I listened quietly.

But every dish you eat is checked and tasted by others first.

I wanted to tell her that fear runs both ways. Every night, there are two attendants and two maids on duty. If attackers come, they’d stab us first.

Even the toilet paper is made of fine cloth and guarded.

A strange detail, but it was true. The Maharani continued to complain.

"The Raja says he loves only me, but look—he’s taken so many queens, even married a chief queen. What am I? What about all his past promises?"

Yet your favour never faded. No matter how you acted out, the Raja always spoiled you.

When he was angry, he punished us servants; when furious, he’d have one or two beaten, but never let you be harmed.

The truth was bitter, but I swallowed it. In the end, the Maharani grew more and more aggrieved, crying until she nearly fainted.

"Meera, all this wealth and glory is empty. If I could be with my true love, what harm would eating simple food do?"

"If I could live again, I’d rather be a little palace maid, marry an ordinary man, and spend my life with him."

Her voice quivered with the kind of longing only someone caged for years could understand. "Would you switch with me, Meera?"

At last, I came to my senses.

My mind was full of the words I’d overheard: "Ritika," "leave"—none of it made sense.

I gripped the Maharani’s hand tightly, playing the loyal maid as best I could.

"Maharani, this maid is willing. My life is yours. If it will make you happy, I will give you anything."

Night fell. The little maid outside climbed a stool to light the palace lamps, and the attendant on night duty sat beneath the corridor, hugging his bedding.

The corridor glowed with diyas, the faint scent of camphor wafting through the air. The other servants returned to their rooms, cowering and praying the Maharani would eat something tomorrow.

Maharani Priya closed her eyes and smiled.

Her face looked almost peaceful, as if the burden of her crown was finally lifting. "At last—I can finally leave this man-eating palace."

Her words echoed in the stillness, a silent promise whispered to the night.