'There are people who plotted against you who didn't know how you survived.'
Sena received a letter from her brother that morning. She was in touch with him through letters. Her education made it easy for her to write letters. That's the only far it reached.
Dear sister,
I am happy to know that you started serving the queen. The days of your misery are going to end soon. You will get married to Satyadev.
I have a plan for you to make your way to him. You cannot just go and introduce yourself in front of him.
From your letter, I can see that he is fond of his new wife. Every man is that way with women. Once he gets close to you, he will forget her. You need to work hard for it. But I totally trust your love.
His letter continued to elaborate their plan. She looked at it with conviction and made up her mind.
She always covered her face with a veil in the palace. When questioned, she explained that she had a scar which she didn't want to reveal.
She was able to see Satyadev a few times. However, she didn't reach out to him for two reasons. One - her brother asked her not to and two - he was always in his wife's arms.
Soon, one news killed her joy altogether.
As she was working in the inner palace, she got the news very early.
A fellow maid informed her 'You know something, our queen is pregnant. I'm so happy.'
Sena: what's it in you for you to be so happy?
Maid: Our queen is so benevolent and kind. Our king is a good man. They treat us like their family.
You were serving in Kitchen. Didn't she bring you under her wing?
Sena: Yes. She really saved me from my misery.
She said with vengeance in her heart.
If not for her, I would have married my Dev long ago.
Satyadev and Iniyal were delighted to know about her pregnancy. He treated her like a treasure. They didn't know then that their happiness would be short-lived.
Iniyal visited her parents family on a weekend. Satyadev stayed in the inner palace assigned for his queen as he missed her.
One particular night, the chamber was filled with candles.
Satyadev: What is the purpose of these many candles?
Veiled Sena responded.
Sena: As you miss her highness, we thought to light the candles. Please tell me if you want us to put them off.
Satyadev: Leave them. Never mind. Everybody can retire. I want to be alone.
She nodded and left with the other maids. She was smiling as her plan was turning the way she wanted.
She only had few days to reach her goal. She had to work on it.
Satyadev felt uncomfortable in the bed. He was feeling hot and thirsty. The scent of the candles did something to him. A long time had passed when he realised that there was an aphrodisiac mixed in the air.
He saw someone entering the chamber and he wasn't able to see the face of that person. After a point of time, he recognised the person before him. It was his wife.
Satyadev: Iniya...
Sena: You're still calling for her...
She whispered.
Sena: You will forget her in the morning, Dev. You might have moved on. But I didn't. I only belong to you.
She climbed the bed and he was too intoxicated at that point.
Iniyal's world stopped spinning the moment she entered the inner palace in the morning.
Iniyal stood rooted to the ground. Head mistress yelled at Sena. Sena got up from the bed.
Satyadev: Iniya, don't leave..
Iniyal: Head mistress, leave the chamber.
She left as per the order. Satyadev then realised her voice was coming from far. Then he tried to look at the person in bed. Sena looked at him.
Satyadev: Who are you?
Sena: Your Sena. The one you met in the convention a few months ago.
Dev, have you forgotten? I was supposed to marry you.
Satyadev: What are you doing in my bed? Did your country send you to do this to me?
Sena: What do you mean? Dev, I loved you from the first moment we met.
Satyadev: You are delusional.
He turned around and looked at his wife. She stood rooted to the ground and didn't utter a word. Something in her changed entirely. She lost all her happiness.
Iniyal: Sena, get dressed and leave the chamber.
Sena looked at her gawkingly.
Iniyal: You might have slept in this bed but you don't belong here.
Sena looked at her king. He didn't even look at her. She left the room with the maid clothes she had hidden under the bed.
Satyadev: Iniya... Listen to me...
Iniyal: Your highness, please refrain from calling me that.
Satyadev: Listen to me once please. I thought it was you.
Iniyal: She is fairer than me, your highness.
Satyadev: I have never seen any woman other than you.
Iniyal: Let's not talk about this anymore.
Satyadev: Give me a chance....
Iniyal: Satya... I have served this country and you all my life. I have always put your interests before mine. This time will also be the same.
I'm not going to fire her. She will serve here until we finalise if she carries a heir for this throne. She will never leave this country under my watch. Even if there was some conspiracy, we can find it then.
As your queen, I cannot let your royal heir to live as a commoner. Isn't it right?
Can you do me just one favor??
Leave me alone for some days. I want to lick my wounds in solitude.
I'm not going to betray you or this throne. Please move out of this inner palace and never step in my chambers.
If you want, you can take her as your concubine.
She slumped when she uttered her last sentence. He came running towards her.
She stopped him just before he touched her.
Iniyal: you're tainted. You're no longer my friend. You're this country's king.
Satyadev: Iniya, you carry my emerald thaali. I love only you.
Iniyal: You called her Iniya. I know she entered this room in my clothes. You were not able to differentiate her from me.
Even if I lost all my senses, I can find you and differentiate you from all the men.
Please leave.
The king was tongue tied. He failed her miserably. She stood by him in all his ups and downs. He failed her when she was in a delicate state.
She never met him for the next three months. She visited his chamber one day.
Satyadev: Queen... You didn't have to walk this long. If you had called for me, I would have come.
Iniyal: Your highness, I'm here to personally give you a news.
Sena is pregnant. Three months.
It was his turn to stand rooted.
Iniyal: We need to keep her safe and she can't be without a title. I have brought the documents to confer a title for her.
Since we don't follow concubinism, I wanted to know the title. Please advise.
Dev retrieved his sword from the scabbard and handed it to her.
Satyadev: Kill me with this sword than to kill me with your words.
She let go off the sword and looked at him with eyes full of tears. She was heavily taunted by Sena about their convention days and the romantic night for the past few days. That made her rude towards him. He was the reason behind her misery.
Satyadev: Don't cry. I committed a mistake. I know. I don't deserve your forgiveness.
I will never confer a title to her. You can do whatever you wish with her heir.
The child in your womb is my heir. He will ascend this throne and his children will inherit the rights.
He walked away from her. She wanted to mend things with him as she loved him so dearly.
But her hormones and Sena messed her up more. She retreated to her chambers. They didn't meet for the next few months unless it was official.
Sena was kept in isolation. She received a letter from her brother at that time. Her letters got delivered to her through a maid arranged by her brother.
#Author's note: Thanks for reading.