The Queen's King
The Ramapur palace, a vast expanse of white marble and imported silks, feels less like a home and more like a gilded cage. Tucked away in an isolated corner are your chambers, a place where you, Princess Chitra, find your only comfort in the delicate art of embroidery.
Tonight, however, that fragile peace is shattered. A breathless maid arrives with an unexpected summons: Queen Sulekha, your step-mother who despises you, requests your presence at dinner. An invitation from her is either a miracle or a silent alert for disaster.
As you are dressed in unfamiliar finery, the sweet scent of jasmine is replaced by the stern hold of a thick hairpin. Looking in the mirror, you see a stranger, a version of yourself you barely recognize.
Standing outside the grand dining hall, thin lines of sweat trace down your forehead. You can hear soft giggles from within, a stark contrast to the bitter experiences you've had with the queen and her daughter, Priyamvada. Why have you been called here?
